Events & Party Pictures

The Ransom Gillis Mansion in Detroit's Brush Park neighborhood opened its doors to media on Aug. 6 ahead of its renovations. A guided tour was provided by HGTV's "Rehab Addict" host Nicole Curtis; Jay Farner, president of Quicken Loans; and Melissa Dittmer, director of architecture and design for Bedrock Real Estate Services.

McLaren Macomb Hospital in Mount Clemens held a brunch for local leaders and community members on Aug. 2 during the Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise, an annual classic and custom car cruise through Clinton Township. The cruise included thousands of classic cars, and also featured a car show and a parade.

The Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak held a wine tasting event, offering guests the chance to sample wine from more than 40 local and national wineries on July 31. The event also featured live music and zookeeper talks.

The Robot Garage, a toy store that sells LEGOs, robots, and other engineering playthings, celebrated the opening of its third Michigan store in Grosse Pointe Park on July 31. The store offers summer camps that give children the chance to build a robot, create a LEGO dinosaur world, and use the computer game Minecraft.

FCA US unveiled its $2.5 million renovations to the Chrysler Technical Center in Auburn Hills at a media event on July 31. Upgrades include a blizzard machine with wind speeds of up to 100 miles per hour and cell temperatures ranging from 40 degrees below zero to 140 degrees. Other renovations include an innovation station, featuring televisions and a 3D printer, along with a more open work environment.

George Blaha held his annual golf outing at the Knollwood Country Club in West Bloomfield Township on June 15 to raise funds for Vista Maria. This year's golf invitational supported Journey to Success, a program that assists at-risk teens from Wayne County. Guests enjoyed 18 holes of golf, a celebrity networking cocktail reception, dinner, and live and silent auctions.

Salt Springs Brewery, a restaurant and brewery housed in a 115-year-old former church in Saline, held a media preview on July 29 before its grand opening Friday. The brewery featured beers such as a Hefeweizen, Saison, porter, and cherry stout. Salt Springs Brewery, located at 117 S. Ann Arbor St., also has a beer garden with live entertainment on weekends.

WDIV's Bernie Smilovitz hosted a golf outing to raise money for the Hunger Free Summer campaign at the Detroit Golf Club on July 27. Guests enjoyed 18 holes of golf, lunch, and dinner provided by Andiamo Restaurant Group. Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan's Hunger Free Summer campaign works to raise 2 million meals for children.

Slurping Turtle hosted its first-ever ramen battle in Ann Arbor on July 26. Luciano Del Signore of Bacco in Southfield, Andy Hollyday of Selden Standard in Detroit, Eve Aronoff of Frida Batidos in Ann Arbor, and James Rigato of The Root in White Lake competed for a $2,000 prize donated to a charity of their choice. Hollyday of Selden Standard won the competition and donated his winnings to Cass Community Social Services.

Winning Futures, a nonprofit in Warren that mentors youth, honored 10 Michigan residents for their dedication to improving the lives of people in their communities at the Emagine Theatre in Royal Oak on July 22. Three Michigan high school seniors were also awarded $2,500 scholarships for essay writing.